Printing and enlarging table



July 22, 1941; J, F. LARY 2,250,309

PRINTING AND ENLARgI TABLE Filed May 25, Z1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l o v Imwfom g v 6 J07 Elmer July 22, 1941. J LARY 2,250,309

PRINTING AND ENLARGING TABLE Filed May 25, 1-940 4 Sheets-SheetZ July 22, 1941. J. F. LARY PRINTING AND ENLARGING TABLE Filed May 25, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 fi .7///// Mvfi///////// N///// g Om S k a 4 4 t at o1 J &v v 1 c L. v m M z N m Mm \N Q Patented July 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING AND ENLARGIN G TABLE James F. Lary, Memphis, Tenn.

Application May 25, 1940, Serial No. 337,135

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in printing and enlarging easels, and has particular reference to an easel adapted for direct printing and/or enlarging photographic pictures.

The objects of my invention are:

To provide a printing easel through the use of which the functions of printing and enlarging pictures may be readily and easily accomplished, and one which is simple in construction and convenient for use.

A further object is to provide a table of this class having means for alining photographic paper for making pictures, which means may be used in cooperation with a knife for trirnming and squaring up the edges of paper or print.

Further objects are to provide readily adjustable means for masking the edges of the paper to provide desired marginal edges and means in connection with the masking means for readily measuring th amount of such masking;

To provide means for making direct or contact prints and for housing portions of the direct printing means to complete the table surface for enlarging purposes; and

To provide means in connection with such a table for storing negatives and for storing assorted sizes of paper for printing and enlarging purposes.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification on reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the complete table on a reduced scale.

Fig. 2 is a similar plan with the masking devices turned vertically upward to expose the table top and with the slide which forms the table for the contact printing portion removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation of the table taken substantially on the line III-III of Figs. 1 and 6 with the contact printer in position to function.

Fig. 4 is a corresponding view with the contact printing parts housed and the table surface established for enlarging use.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken as on the line VV of Fig. 3 showing the detail masking strip clamp.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken as on the line VIVI of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the upper left hand corner of the table as shown in Fig. 2 with the gaging slide cut away to show the clamping member thereof.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 a further fragmentary view taken on they line IXIX of Fig. 7, and Fig. 10 diagrammatically shows the wiring.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the spacing blocks and division members used in the paper cabinet.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

The easel comprises a substantially rectangular flat top table It on which sensitized paper is laid face up to receive a photographic image projected thereon by an enlarger, which is not here shown. To hold the paper down on the base and form a blank or white border around its edges, I use a masking. frame comprising an L shaped member having legs H and I2 and two slides l3, l4 adjustably mounted respectively on the legs I l and 12. The slide [4 has upwardly turned edge portions l4A which form a stop or guide for paper being trimmed by a knife, later herein described. The stop isin a plurality of sections to maintain flexibility of theslide.

The legs H and I 2 are preferably integrally joined together and are essentially channels having their side portions turned downward. In cross section these channels, as best shown in Fig. 5, have a substantially flat web ||-A and oppositely disposed. sides, portions of which, ll-B, HC, converge for about one-third the side depth and thence remaining portions IID, H-E diverge, it being noted that the side portion Il-E is shorter than the opposite side in order that it may clear the base and permit the adjacent ends of the slides to underlie. One of the L legs, as the leg 12, is hingedly attached attached along one edge of the table 10 as by hinges I5, Figs. 3 and 4, so that the masking frame as a whole may be turned upward at an angle, as shown in dash lines in Fig. 4, to clear the table surface. When so turned a spring latch l 6 engages a lug ll on the frame member and detachably retains the frame in such position.

The slides l3 and M respectively have heads 20, 2| which fit over th legs H and I2, each head, as the head 20, Fig. 5, having a fiat portion lying against the top ||A of the leg and inwardly converging side portions 2ilB, 20C slidably embracing the converging portions |l--B and llC of the sides of the leg. Preferably the heads 20 and H are longer than the width of the slides which they carry to give greater rigidity thereto. Each of the heads, as the head 20, has

an upwardly projecting post 22 rigidly secured thereto on which a button 23 is mounted. Each of the buttons 23 is hollowed out to form an annular chamber 25; in which is disposed a compression chamber 25. The spring surrounds the post 22 and rests against the bottom of the chamber it, being held in compression as by a nut 23. Projecting from the bottom of the button 23 are lugs 2'5 which are adapted to extend through complementary openings in the head and be foced into gripping engagement with the top 3 l-A of the leg by the pressur of the spring and resist shifting of the head. The head, however, may be released by manually raising the button, and shifting of the slide be accomplished.

The diverging surfaces, as li-E of the legs, are graduated, preferably in inches and fractions thereof, to provide scales through which desired positioning of the slides may be accomplished.

The blade portions of the slides 3 a: d M are rigidly secured to heads i=3 and .25 re pectively i masking iber is a paper guide having a pair 0 of integral arms at right angles, each of which arms has a vertically extending front edge 32, respectively which form stops for positioning the paper. integrally secured to the underside of the guide are diagonally disposed fins 34, 35 and 36. These fins are parallel and are disposed and adapted to slide in complementary grooves 38 and 39 respectively, the fins and the slots being so positioned that the stops 32 and 33 will be held in alinernent with the legs I l and 52 respectively of the masking member and when the fins are shifted in the slots will maintain such parallelism. Preferably the fin 34 (see P1 '7) is slightly crimped in order that it will frictionally engage the side of the slot 3'! and hold the paper stop in adjusted position. The slots 3], 38 and 3d are preferably disposed at an angle of forty-five degrees to the edges of the table so that the amount of movement toward or away from the sides of th table will be identical with the amount of movement toward or away from the end of the table. Preferably also the surface of the table is made slightly lower beneath the guide in order that the bottom of the guide may lie slightly below the surface of the table and insure contact of the edges of th paper lying on the table with the stops.

Disposed at on end of the table is a cutting edge 4G, with which a shearing cutter or blade 4! cooperates, to trim he edges of the prints or The blade if is provided with an integral hub "12 which has a projecting pin 43 journalled in a bracket t4 mounted on the table. The pin projects beyond the bracket M and is provided with a head -35 which may be a nut screwed on the end portion of the pin. is an interposed compressicn spring holding the knife blade in shearing engagement with the plate 40. Obviously the plate is definitely at right angles a-U to the s op in order that tle paper may be disposed against this stop and the cut edge be truly squared up. If desired a fixed stop 41, usually of very restricted length, may be used in connection with the movable stop 33. In such event the adjustable stop must be moved forward into definite alinement with the fixed stop il, this being provided for by the length of the slots and 33, and also by end engagement of he stop with the fixed stop 57.

Preferably tire top of th table adjoining cabinet.

cutting edge 4 3 is ruled off in parallel lines crossing in groups at right angles and marked to indicate in inches and fractions thereof their distances from the cutting edge and from the stop 47 and stop 2'3, and provide convenient scales for paper or prints being trimmed. The guide [4 may be positioned to aline the stop ld-A as by reference to these marl-2s to assist in equally sizing a number of prints.

nderlying the table is a cabinet having side and end walls respectively and a bottom 50. One corner portion of this cabinet is partitioned or? by walls E2 to form compartments 53, 54 and 55, the wall 5i extending clear across the The table is cut away over the compartment and a shutter used to replace the cut away portion, the shutter when closed being adapted to complete he surface of the table. This shutter comprises a frame having sides 56, 5? and ends which surround and mount a U1, center p rtion 63, preferably of ground glass. surface of the frame and the glass are l and when in place coincide with and comie surface of the table. The inner edges of s and ends mask a full size print therem light from below and for smaller the 5'3 and end 58 may likewise serve.

held therein. The strips and 85 are so thin they do not interfere with the table surface, this i icularly s nce the slide 85 may ordinarily be shifted entirely out from under any enlarge- :nent print being made.

outer end of the shutter a clamp iber which is loosely attached by pins or screws 15 to provide a rocking movement about its longitudinal axis. Underlying the outer side of the neinber 53 are springs H which are let suitable pockets disposed adjacent the outer .f the end member these springs exerting .ing motion on the inner edge of the memdge of the paper.

Cooperating, particularly with the glass portion 6 of the slide, is a contacting head comprising two sections 15, H3 connected together by a hinge ll, each section comprisin a backing member and an underlying soft pad. The section 76 is connected to the table top by fiat straps "E2 of thin flexible material, preferably metal, which straps are secured by hinges '19 to the table top and are adapted not only to bring the section 76 into substantial parallelism with the surface of the glass 50 when turned thereagainst, but by reason of their flexibility to provide for differences of thicknesses, particularly of interposed negatives such as glass as contrasted with films.

Rigidly connected to the section as by a hinge 3% is an arcuate pressure plate 8| spanning the hinge l7 and having its free end slidably contacting the top of the section 16. 82 is a bar disposed and secured along the center of the arch of the member (if, and 83 a handle secured to this bar. 84 is a centrally disposed guide bar secured at its ends to the section 15 and lying parallel to the upper surface thereof, this bar passing through an opening in the arcuate member 81 and serving not only to slidably guide the free end of the member, but also to be engaged by the free end of this bar and assist in raising the hinged-together sections and T6. Overlying the arcuate pressure plate 8| is a switch actuator, which comprises a. pair of rods 85 which are preferably formed of a single piece of heavy wire bent against itself at its mid point,

these rods being spaced apart and secured in the bar 82. At their inner ends these bars are further separated and are adapted to slide along the upper surface of the section 16. 'Adjacent their outer ends they are first bent upward, to

clear the section 15'when retracted about the hinge H as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thence bent downwardly to provide means for closing a contact switch 86 the contacting pressure being applied through a slidably disposed plunger 81. v

Disposed in the compartment 55 are a pair of bulbs 90 which are adapted to furnish ample light for contact printing. These bulbs are furnished with current from a suitable source by circuit 9|, 92 which is interrupted by the switch 85 so that on closing this switch the circuit is completed and proper light furnished for contact printing. Additionally within the compartment there may be a non-actinic bulb 93, usually of red glass, which is directly wired in the circuit in advance of the switch and burns at all times when current is on. A suitable switch 94 is preferably provided for cutting the current on and oil.

The compartment 53 is provided with a light proof door 95, which forms with the side walls, bottom and top a light-proof receptacle for photographic print paper. The compartment is divided horizontally by shelves 96 which are pro gressively slightly shorter from bottom to top, the door 95 being similarly inclined to allow readier access to these stepped shelves. The various shelf compartments are divided into sizes conforming to desired and usual sizes of paper for making varied sizes of prints and-enlargements, this division preferably being accomplished by removable partitions, each of which includes a block 91 of shelf compartment height and a strip of thin metal 98 of equal width secured to the block and extended forwardly therefrom, the width of the block conforming to the width of the paper to be disposed in the compartment and the projecting length of the side strip conforming to the length of the paper. Blocks may extend entirely to the back of the compartment or may be less than such depth, being adjusted in such case rearwardly from the front of the shelf. The compartments may be suitably numbered or designated along the side walls or otherwise, though such designation is not here shown.

The compartment 54 is provided with a door opening through the end 49 and is provided with a pull button 99, but there being no particular construction detail involved, the door is not shown. The compartment 54 may be used for the storage of negatives.

In using the device, the compartment 531s usually stocked with sensitized photographic paper of the more common sizes used for contact printing, and for enlargements.

For contact printing the switch 94 is turned on establishing current to the red bulb 93 and switch 89. The shutter carrying the ground glass 69 is pulled out and the contacting head l in such position in and of itself.

1 edges.

comprising the sections l5, 13, is raised above the surface and turned backward about the hinges 79 into upright position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, being adapted to remain The shutter is then replaced, the glass surface 60 providing a table for the contact printing. A negative is then placed on the table, one edge of the negative being engaged under the clamping member 69, and is positioned as desired by the glow from the red light underlying the glass, and so that one end and one edge are properly masked by the end 58 and side 56. The masking strips 65, 66 are then shifted to properly mask the remaining A sheet of sensitized paper of proper size is selected, placed in contact with the negative and held by the fingers. The contacting head is then swung downward about the hinges 19 to bring the section 16 into engagement with the paper and hold it in position and against the negative, after which the section 15 of the head is swung downward about the hinge H to complete the contact of the paper with the negative and bring the switch actuator into contact with the plunger 81. Additional pressure is then exerted on the handle 83, through the arcuate pressure plate Bl forcing the head 15, 16 into closer contact .with the paper and causing the switch actuator to close the contact switch Bi; and turn on the printing light 90.

Preferably theend of the compartment 55 immediately underlying the shutter 50 is spaced away from the shutter so that turning on the light may be more readily observed. Pressure and contact are maintained for the length of time necessary to accomplish the printing, after which the contacting head is raised again to upright position and the print is removed.

If additional prints are to be made the operation is repeated. After completing contact printing the negatives may be placed in the storage compartment 53 should it be so desired. After contact printing has been completed the shutter is again withdrawn and the contacting head folded downward into the light compartment 55 and the shutter replaced. When this is done the shutter is slid back into place completing the surface of the table forenlargement purposes, except that there are small gaps where the fiat straps l8 of the contacting head hinges extend diagonally downward. V shaped blocks I00 are preferably provided to complete the surface at this point.

The masking strips and 66 are then usually removed and for storage may be placed in the negativecompartment 53. The masking frame comprising the legs I! and I2 of the L shaped member and the slides l3, M are then raised until the spring latch l6 engages the lug I 1 to hold the frame in upright position. The paper guide is then shifted. to register the marking on the table underlying it indicating the width of masking margin desired, this marking being directly indicated on the table. A sheet of sensitized paper of proper size for the desired enlargement is then placed face upward on the table and shifted sidewis'e and endwise against the stops 32, 33, and the'masking'frame turned downward to engage one side edge and one end edge and cover such portion of each thereof as it is desired to mask off. The masking slides i3 and I4 are then moved inward to cover same amounts of the opposite side and edge of the paper, such measurements being directly readable from the scales on the edges of the legs II and I2, or if the printis to be substantially less in size the slides may be adjusted by direct reading on the scales to the size desired. After placing the paper the enlarging head (not shown) is properly focused and the picture projected on the paper. After completing the print the masking frame is again turned upward into supporting engagement with the spring latch I6 and the print removed. Should it be desired to trim the paper either before or after printing or after the prints have been developed, washed and dried, the paper guide is shifted forward until the stop 33 of the arm 3| is in alinement with the fixed stop 41 and the print paper or print laid on the table and moved into desired position overhanging the plate 40, after which the blade 4! may be depressed to trim the edge. After one edge is trimmed the print may be turned to bring the trimmed edge against the stop and the operationrepeated. Should the print inadvertently be slightly twisted on the paper, the first edge trimmed may be trimmed in parallelism or desired alinement with the edge of the picture and subsequent squaring up be accomplished, using that edge as a basis.

I claim:

1. A printing and enlarging structure including a base, means separating off chambers in said base, and a table member overlying said base and chambers therein, one rectangular portion of said member being cut away adjacent a corner of said table to form an opening exposing an underlying one of said chambers, a shutter adapted to form a closure for said opening and complete the surface of said table thereover, said shutter having a light transmitting panel and being displaceable to uncover said chamber, lighting means in said chamber spaced below said shutter, a head hingedly secured to said table adjacent said opening, said head being housable in said chamber between said lights and said shutter, being shiftable about said hinges into said chamber and out thereof when said shutter is displaced and being adapted to cooperate with said panel to contact negatives and sensitized paper thereagainst after shifting from said chamber and replacement of said shutter.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which said head carries a part adapted to energize said lighting means concurrently with its cooperative paper and negative contacting action.

3. A printing and enlarging structure including a base, means separating off chambers in said base, and a table member overlying said base and chambers therein, one rectangular portion of said member being cut away adjacent a corner of said table to form an opening exposing an underlying one of said chambers, a shutter adapted to form a closure for said opening and complete the surface of said table thereover, said shutter having a light transmitting panel and being displaceable to uncover said chamber, a light bulb in said chamber spaced below said shutter, a circuit including a switch biased open leading from a source of electric energy to said bulb, a head hingedly secured to said table adjacent said opening, said head being housable in said chamber between said bulb and said shutter, being shiftable about said hinges into said chamber and out thereof when said shutter is displaced and being adapted to cooperate with said panel to contact negatives and sensitized paper thereagainst after shifting from said chamber and replacement of said shutter, said head having a projecting member adapted to engage said switch and close same on movement of said head into cooperative engagement with said panel.

4. A structure in accordance with claim 3 which includes two actinic and one non-actinic bulb, said non-actinic bulb being in said circuit in advance of said switch.

5. A printing and enlarging structure including a base, means separating off chambers in said base, and a table member overlying said base and chambers therein, one rectangular portion of said member being cut away adjacent a corner of said table to form an opening exposing an underlying one of said chambers, a shutter adapted to form a closure for said opening and complete the surface of said table thereover, said shutter including an opaque frame, a light transmitting panel carried by said frame, and a pair of opaque slides, adjustable respectively toward and away from a side and an end of said frame and adapted to cooperate with said side and end to form a masking frame; said shutter being displaceable to uncover said chamber, lighting means in said chamber spaced below said shutter, a head hingedly secured to said table adjacent said opening, said head being housable in said chamber between said lights and said shutter, being shiftable about said hinges into said chamber and out thereof when said shutter is displaced and being adapted to cooperate with said panel, and said masking frame to contact negatives and sensitized paper thereagainst after shifting from said chamber and replacement of said shutter.

6. A printing and enlarging device including a base, having a chamber therein, a printing table having an opening therein substantially co-extensive with said chamber overlying said base and chamber, said table including a shutter shiftable to expose said opening, said shutter including a light transmitting panel; lighting means in said chamber spaced below said shutter, said means including a lighting circuit and a switch therefor biased open; a head adapted to cooperate with said panel to contact negatives and sensitized paper thereagainst, said head comprising a pair of abutting pads, hinge means connecting the abutting edges of said pads together, hinge means connecting the opposite edge of one of said pads to said table adjacent said opening, an arcuate pressure member having one edge hingedly secured to one of said pads and the opposite edge slidably contacting the other thereof, means slidably confining such opposite edge to adjacency with said pad, handle means secured to said pressure member, and a switch closing member carried by said handle member and movable into switch contact and actuation by pressure applying movement of said handle, said head being housable in said chamber between said lighting means and said shutter, and being shiftable about said hinges into or out of said chamber when said shutter is displaced.

'7. A device in accordance with claim 6 in which said shutter is slidably shiftable.

8. A printing and enlarging device, including an enlarging table having an opening therein, a light transmitting panel completing the surface of said table over said opening, said panel being shiftable to uncover said opening; a head, adapted, when said panel is in covering position, to contact negatives and sensitized paper therewith, means hingedly connecting said head to said table for movement of said head through said opening, when uncovered, into inoperative position below, or contacting position above, said panel, and mean-s carried by said device below said opening for efiecting printing illumination of said panel.

9. A printing and enlarging device, including an enlarging table having an opening therein, and walls establishing a chamber beneath said opening, a light transmitting panel completing the surface of said table and said opening, said panel being shiftable to uncover said opening; a head, adapted, when said panel is in covering position, to contact negatives and sensitized paper therewith, means hingedly connecting said head to said table for movement of said head through said opening, when uncovered, into inoperative position below, or contacting position above, said panel, and means within said chamber for effecting printing illumination of said panel.

10. A printing and enlarging device, including an enlarging table having an opening therein, a light transmitting panel completing the surface of said table over said opening, said panel being shiftable to uncover said opening, a head, adapted, when said panel is in covering position, to

contact negatives and sensitized paper therewith, means hingedly connecting said head to said table for movement of said head through said opening, when uncovered, into inoperative position below, or cooperative position above, said panel, means carried by said device below said opening adapted on energization to effect printing illumination of said panel, and means carried by said head for effecting energization of said illuminating means during contacting action of said head.

11. A printing and enlarging device, including an enlarging table having an opening therein, a shutter, including a light transmitting panel, completing the surface of said table over said opening, said shutter being shiftable to uncover said opening; a head, adapted, when said shutter is in covering position, to contact negatives and sensitized paper with said panel, means hingedly connecting said head to said table for movement of said head through said opening, when uncovered, into inoperative position below, or co-operative position above, said panel, and means carried by said device for efiecting printing illumination of said panel.

JAMES F. LARY. 

